Rentaro Taki was one of the earliest Japanese composers who attempted to create works using Western music theory.

He was born in Tokyo on August 24, 1879 (Meiji 12). His father, Yoshihiro, was an official in the Ministry of Home Affairs, and due to several transfers, Rentaro spent his childhood moving between Yokohama, Toyama, and Oita. He played the accordion, harmonica, violin, and shakuhachi, and in elementary school, he encountered the reed organ. In Oita, he studied under Yoshio Goto, and after moving to Tokyo, he received instruction from Sakunosuke Koyama (famous as the composer of “Natsu wa Kinu”) at the “Shiba Shoka-kai” (Shiba Singing Society).

In 1894, he enrolled in the Music School attached to the Higher Normal School (which became independent as the Tokyo Music School in 1899, now the Faculty of Music, Tokyo University of the Arts). He studied piano and composition under Sakunosuke Koyama, as well as R. von Koeber, a Russian who was well-versed in philosophy and music, and Nobu Koda, who had just returned from studying in Europe.

Rentaro Taki's first appearance at a music school concert was in 1896, where he performed J. Rheinberger's “Ballade.” Taki's own notes state: “On December 12, Meiji 29, I performed this piece as a solo at the Music School Alumni Association Concert. This was my first solo performance.” Records of concerts held at the Music School's Sogakudo (Concert Hall) show that between 1897 and 1899, he performed:

• L. v. Beethoven's “Egmont Overture” (four-hand duet)
• R. Schumann's “Fröhlicher Landmann” (solo)
• M. Clementi's “Sonata” (solo)
• J. S. Bach's “Italian Concerto” (solo)

Additionally, in 1897, Taki's compositions “Nihon Danji” (Japanese Man), “Haru no Umi” (Spring Sea), and “Sanpo” (Walk) were published in the magazine “Omugaku.”

From 1898, he was enrolled in the research course at Tokyo Music School, and from the following year, he served as a part-time assistant for classes.

In 1901, he went to Germany as a student dispatched by the Ministry of Education and enrolled in the Royal Conservatory of Music in Leipzig. During his study abroad, he frequently attended concerts at venues such as the Gewandhaus, leading a fulfilling musical life. However, two months after entering the conservatory, he contracted pulmonary tuberculosis, and a year later, he had to return to Japan. While recuperating in Oita, he passed away on June 29, 1903, at the young age of 23 years and 10 months.

His posthumous work was the piano piece “Urami” (Regret). This short piece in A minor and 6/8 time modulates to F major in the middle section, but concludes with arpeggiated chords in A minor, stirring up intense emotion.

Among Rentaro Taki's works, particularly famous pieces include “Oshogatsu” (New Year's Day), “Hato Poppo” (Pigeon), “Kojo no Tsuki” (The Moon Over the Ruined Castle), “Hakone Hachiri” (Eight Miles of Hakone), and “Shiki” (Four Seasons).

• “Oshogatsu” and “Hato Poppo” were both composed to lyrics by Kume Higashi and included in “Yochien Shoka” (Kindergarten Songs), published in 1901.
• “Kojo no Tsuki” and “Hakone Hachiri” were included in “Chugaku Shoka” (Junior High School Songs), compiled by the Tokyo Music School in the same year. Regarding “Kojo no Tsuki,” it has been revealed that the score written by Taki was unaccompanied, and Kōsaku Yamada later added an accompaniment and an accidental to one note.
• “Hana” (Flower), widely sung even today (lyrics beginning: “Haru no urara no~”), is one of the pieces from “Shiki.” In the preface to the score of “Shiki,” published in 1900, Taki expressed his awareness of the need for Japanese composers to move beyond imitation of Western music and create “art songs.”